A frustrated Dungeon Master presented his players (do they play?) with a list of "rules" that were going to be implemented moving forward.  While clearly frustrated with SparkleTroll and otherwise bad player behavior as we dig through his list we have to ask... "Is he wrong?"  The guys discuss faux pas of players at the TTRPG table and how the DM can wrangle his DnD group back into reality.  Plus, the news!   ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----     The News: Beetlejuice's Backstory?!?Actual Plays -- They Aren'tLive-Action D&D Show ScrappedWotC is Hiring an AI Overlord!   ----more----     Episode Sponsors and Affiliates: Shop Amazon and Support the Show: https://amzn.to/3djotja *We earn a small commission for each Amazon purchase at no additional cost to you!

The holiday weekend in the States and a few too many life incidents have abbreviated this week's episode into a Nano!  Fear not, though a touch shorter than usual, it is still packed with everything you'd expect -- Beginning with talk of how a DM can correct an "accidential overpowering" of a party and ending with news (from Reddit) RD and Bert squeeze a full show into a condensed timeline!   ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----     The News: WotC Dragon "Redesigns"Life-Sized Totoro?TMNT/MotU Disappointment"Don't Ignore Muh Backstory!"   ----more----     Episode Sponsors and Affiliates: EMI's zine, "Tales from the Tavern" -- available NOW! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/481989/elven-maid-inn-tales-from-the-tavern-magazine-issue-1?affiliate_id=3908211 Shop Amazon and Support the Show: https://amzn.to/3djotja *We earn a small commission for each Amazon purchase at no additional cost to you!

With ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY SIX OFFICIAL (you read that correctly) classes and subclasses in DnD 5e, it's time the gang evaluated class structures in TTRPGs.  There are no surprises here -- the guys believe less is more.  Add in some tales of characters gone by, bard mocking, and of course the news, and you have a full episode of nerdy goodness that you will love to listen to!   ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----     The News: Use That Railroad!  :)Talisman 5th EditionBlade Runner's "Must Have" Splat BookFeed Tony Soprano Gabbagool!   ----more----     Episode Sponsors and Affiliates: Shop Amazon and Support the Show: https://amzn.to/3djotja *We earn a small commission for each Amazon purchase at no additional cost to you!

Fallout... The Last of Us... Rings of Power... Castlevania... there are a LOT of game-inspired screen adaptations hitting lately, and the trend is not going to end.  This week, the boys look at all of the players and talk about what TTRPG, video, and board game adaptations they would like to see!  Plus, a newsy tribute to Roger Corman starts a banger of collection of weekly nerdy news.   ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----     The News: Rest in Power, The King of Cult"We're not going to deeply discount D&D again" was BSCritical Role to milk simps for subsThe Ghoul is... hot?   ----more----     Episode Sponsors and Affiliates: Shop Amazon and Support the Show: https://amzn.to/3djotja *We earn a small commission for each Amazon purchase at no additional cost to you!

This week, our good friend The Dungeon Delver drops in to chew the fat with the gang about the incredible nothingburger that was the Wizards of the Coast "AI art FAQ."  There was a lot of internet noise, but is WotC doing... the right thing?  The boys and Bill dig in deep to this offering insight, perspective, and opinion.  Plus, the news will NOT disappoint!   ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----     The News: AI Exits at the WarehouseSaturday Morning Cartoons!Arkham Horror TTRPG's Dice SystemMetagaming is Good... so says Reddit!   ----more----     Episode Sponsors and Affiliates: Shop Amazon and Support the Show: https://amzn.to/3djotja *We earn a small commission for each Amazon purchase at no additional cost to you!

Hot on the heels of Nerdcognito getting de-platformed on YouTube after an alleged cancel culture report strike -- and the RD having his personal account targeted and wiped as well -- we look at cancel culture in the hobby in general.  Who better to bring in for this discussion but "Grim" James Desborough?  Jim gives his perspective on the hobby and insight into targeted harassment campaigns as both a victim and an observer.  Plus, Jim sits in for the remainder of the show to have some fun with the news!   ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----     The News: PBS Retro strangeness is a good thingBSG board game creator tackling Star Wars' MandalorianHow to make a character, according to RedditUnused undead, according to the pop gaming media   ----more----     Episode Sponsors and Affiliates: Shop Amazon and Support the Show: https://amzn.to/3djotja *We earn a small commission for each Amazon purchase at no additional cost to you!

Cynthia Williams has announced her departure from Wizards of the Coast!  What does this mean?  Listen to the guys give their takes on her exodus.  Then, as promised, a lively deep dive into what makes a module and their role in the hobby.  After the news, creator of Dystopian Dawn, Tony Garcia stops by to talk about his latest project and the gang briefly touches on woke Warhammer.   ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----     The News: More "paint by numbers" pop gaming media gabage"Stray," but in board game formatThe camera that fights back!   ----more----     Episode Sponsors and Affiliates: Shop Amazon and Support the Show: https://amzn.to/3djotja *We earn a small commission for each Amazon purchase at no additional cost to you!

Can a SparkleTroll be saved?  Is a tourist worth bringing to the table?  Should we even bother?  This week the gang tears into all things tourist -- from origins to Critical Role toxins to playstyles.  Can we bring the hobby back from a fundamental and philosophical shift?  Plus, the news has LOTS of TTRPG goodness that you won't want to miss!  (...and Modules!)     ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211   ----more----     The News: Deathless DnDThe Black Company RPGDr. Zaius!Blair Witch Project... board game?!?   ----more----     Episode Sponsors and Affiliates: Wandering Heroes of Ogre Gate: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/191631/Wandering-Heroes-of-Ogre-Gate?affiliate_id=3908211Shop Amazon and Support the Show: https://amzn.to/3djotja *We earn a small commission for each Amazon purchase at no additional cost to you!

Players drop hints all the time.  What happens when it is more than a friendly poke?  How should you handle your group asking for in-game favors, dictating game/world events, demanding items, or throwing an X-card (just kidding, show the X'er the door!).  Plus, the news, Ryan revives "Oriental" and shoves it back into the acceptable category, and tales from Reddit.     ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211   ----more----     The News: Possible Hope for Matrix 5Gnolls are EVIL!Cookie Cutter Tourist SparkleTrolls   ----more----     Episode Sponsors and Affiliates: Wandering Heroes of Ogre Gate: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/191631/Wandering-Heroes-of-Ogre-Gate?affiliate_id=3908211Shop Amazon and Support the Show: https://amzn.to/3djotja *We earn a small commission for each Amazon purchase at no additional cost to you!

Nerdcognito talks to... Daniel D. Fox?!? (yes, THAT Daniel D. Fox) Uh oh. "Infamous" RD and Kyle sit down with the "notorious" Daniel D. Fox, creator of Zweihander, alleged destructor of The Trove, and all around polarizing figure in the TTRPG space. Publicly politically misaligned with the guys AND potentially on the opposite end of the gaming spectrum, what odd cosmic alignment brought these two forces together? Tough questions will be asked, and hopefully answered. Could an impossible alliance be formed? Does someone storm out? Is there punch and pie? Be sure to sit back and enjoy one of the very rare interviews given by the one and only Daniel D. Fox.       ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----   ----more----   Episode Sponsors and Affiliates: Shop Amazon and Support the Show: https://amzn.to/3djotja *We earn a small commission for each Amazon purchase at no additional cost to you!

It happens -- a friend, a partner -- someone tells you "You can't play with THEM!"  Maybe not you, but maybe that guy with the antisocial eye-rolling leftie girlfriend slowly exits from your table.  Why and how do these ultimatums get made and how do they effect your table?  Plus, the pros and cons of modules.  Maybe.  Probably not.   ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----     The News: Luke Gygax blows away goals and honors GaryMore Reddit DND Fun (?)6e/OneDND "Deal" for your game store   ----more----     Episode Sponsors and Affiliates: Shop Amazon and Support the Show: https://amzn.to/3djotja *We earn a small commission for each Amazon purchase at no additional cost to you!

This week, the gang dives deep on the Total Party Kill.  Talking about this unique situation that apparently makes SparkleTrolls weep, the boys look into it mechanically, from a story perspective, and through the eyes of both player and dungeon master.  Of course, there are some great TPK stories thrown in there as well.  This, combined with longer chatter around the news of the day fill out the week!   ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----     The News: Gundam-esque classic TTRPG coming in English... ...and a Shin Megami Tensai tabletop experience.RD wants to play The ThaumaturgeBaldur's Gate 3 players continue to taint DND   ----more----     Episode Sponsors and Affiliates: Wretched Chanbara! -- now available at The Red Room! https://moordereht.com/product/wretched-chanbara/Shop Amazon and Support the Show: https://amzn.to/3djotja *We earn a small commission for each Amazon purchase at no additional cost to you!

Ever play at a table with that cutsey-wootsey couple that just seems to always help each other?  How about the BF DM that always give the right magic item to his boo?  This week we talk about how real relationships can alter a table and give our thoughts on how to preserve the integrity of your game.  Also, a positive news week spins into an exciting announcement regarding the Lovecraft mythos in the TTRPG world.   ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----     The News: Unfathomable Expansion!Mass Effect's Return... sort ofSynchronize Smartwatches!WizKids Mini "Surprise!"   ----more----     Episode Sponsors and Affiliates: Wretched Chanbara! -- now available at The Red Room! https://moordereht.com/product/wretched-chanbara/Shop Amazon and Support the Show: https://amzn.to/3djotja *We earn a small commission for each Amazon purchase at no additional cost to you!

This is a milestone episode: RD admits that he "was wrong" multiple times!  First, the guys talk about introducing horror elements at the table.  After the news, Anthony Grasso and Wythe Marschall drop by to talk about Blister Critters, their new Kickstarter game that originally was panned by Ryan before he did his homework only to be now praised based on the final product and a deep dive!   ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----     The News: Terry Pratchett's Discworld TTRPGMOTU Evil Lyn Cartoon GloryAlien: Romulus UpdateYou are doing Goblins WRONG!   ----more----     Episode Sponsors and Affiliates: Wretched Chanbara! -- now available at The Red Room! https://moordereht.com/product/wretched-chanbara/Shop Amazon and Support the Show: https://amzn.to/3djotja *We earn a small commission for each Amazon purchase at no additional cost to you!

This episode, we look at how myth, legend, history, and tall tales have influenced Dungeons and Dragons specifically and the TTRPG world in general.  Some folks claim this is a bad thing... but it's a great element that should be celebrated!  The news includes RD doing a 180 after more details on a game he panned became available.  After Ryan eats crow, the gang talks how important creativity and the ability to improvise are critical to the hobby.   ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----     The News: The Dying Light Board Game Looks INCREDIBLE!City of Mist for your SupersChoco Taco Bait and SwitchRD Admits Even He is Sometimes Wrong   ----more----     Episode Sponsors and Affiliates: Shop Amazon and Support the Show: https://amzn.to/3djotja *We earn a small commission for each Amazon purchase at no additional cost to you!

Birthed from last week's "Session Zero" descriptions, we have TWO topics this week that make the show -- and our heads spin: Backstories... and Encounter Balance.  Are they needed?  Do they make an appearance at our tables?  How have these elements impacted the TTRPG Hobby?  As if that wasn't enough... of course there is some crazy news, with a stroll through a Reddit post for extra flavor.  (Don't ask what flavor).   ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND LAUNCHING THIS WEEK! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----     The News: "That Sexy BG3 Character Makes Me Wet"CMON Jumps to GamefoundNew Switch?  New PS5(6?)?They Finally Admit: Honor Among Thieves was a Failure! ----more----     Episode Sponsors and Affiliates: Shop Amazon and Support the Show: https://amzn.to/3djotja *We earn a small commission for each Amazon purchase at no additional cost to you!

This week, the guys talk about consequences of action and PC death in TTRPGs.  Why are these "horrible" things critical for your game?  The news kicks around some nerdy developments on past stories and is highlighted by our "unnamed" hat tip on Reddit.  Finally, Session Zero talk online has been rumbling again, so each of the gang describes what their "0" looks like!   ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND ANTICIPATED SOON! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----     The News: Cavill Highlander UpdateA Gentle Rain... no Arkham HorrorDragonlance show is deadSparkleTrolls realize #GatekeepingIsGood ----more----     Episode Sponsors and Affiliates: Shop Amazon and Support the Show: https://amzn.to/3djotja *We earn a small commission for each Amazon purchase at no additional cost to you!

Last week was a barnburner, so we needed to pump the brakes and return to some good ol' nerdy chatter!  We open with a discussion of nostalgia, and the role it plays at your table.  After the news, the guys ask the question "When did making money become a secondary goal in business?" ...specifically in our hobby!   ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND ANTICIPATED 02/09/24 OR SOONER! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----     The News: Inserting porn... er... "romance..."JRPG Taking Steam by StormDiablo TTRPG and Board Game! ----more----     Episode Sponsors and Affiliates: Shop Amazon and Support the Show: https://amzn.to/3djotja *We earn a small commission for each Amazon purchase at no additional cost to you!

When Grim Jim calls, we answer.  A special, extended-length episode that details the revelations that should shock the TTRPG design world.  The gang and Jim dig deep into the article, talk about their perspective, and offer a path forward for our corner of the hobby.  #DungeonDrama   ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven ----more----     The News: Tarrasque what?CMON Kickstarter BailoutPalworld vs. Pokemon ----more----     Episode Sponsors and Affiliates: Shop Amazon and Support the Show: https://amzn.to/3djotja *We earn a small commission for each Amazon purchase at no additional cost to you!

Dovetailing with last week's conversation about Power Gamers, the boys have a deep talk about how actual Player Skill vs. Character "Ability" can be balanced in a game.  Where does a check fall as opposed to playing it out in the mind or at the table of the PC's creator?  After the news, a look at the new OSR Adventure, The Tragedy at Taigon's Falls proves to be a positive way to close out the show!   ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven ----more----     The News: There can be only one... Cavill?More board game counterfeit rumblingsLovecraftian beautyBrass Birmingham sequel talk ----more----     Episode Sponsors and Affiliates: Shop Amazon and Support the Show: https://amzn.to/3djotja *We earn a small commission for each Amazon purchase at no additional cost to you!